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    Home » Vegan recipes » Drinks » Cocktails and mocktails

    Earl Grey Gin and Tonic: The Tipsy Earl

    Last Modified: Apr 12, 2022 by Becky Striepe

    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Print
    close-up of a glass of Earl Gray gin and tonic with a blue straw and an orange wedge garnish

    Tea-infused gin, tonic water, and fresh orange juice make this Earl Grey cocktail extra special. You'll want to invite the Tipsy Earl to your next party for SURE!

    close-up of the Earl Gray Gin and Tonic on a marble table with ingredients on the tabletop

    Y'all, I am obsessed with Earl Grey tea right now. This citrusy, flowery-tasting black tea really shines in this gin-spiked Earl Grey cocktail!

    Jump To:
    • What is Earl Grey tea?
    • Making the Earl Grey gin
    • Making the cocktail
    • Earl Grey cocktail recipe

    What is Earl Grey tea?

    I feel like Earl Grey tea doesn't get enough fanfare. But it just has such a lovely, floral, citrusy flavor!

    Earl Grey is black tea flavored with bergamot. If you're not familiar with bergamot, it's just a variety of orange. It's what gives Earl Grey its distinct, almost perfumey flavor.

    Like other black teas, Earl Grey is naturally caffeinated. It contains 55 to 90 mg of caffeine per cup, depending on how strong you make it. That's comparable to around half a cup of coffee, depending on what kind of coffee you're making.

    The tea is named for English Prime Minister Earl Charles Grey. Along with creating this tea, he did a little thing called abolishing slavery in England in 1833.

    Pretty cool guy!

    Making the Earl Grey gin

    Earl Grey gin is the key to this drink. It's very easy to make, but it does take some planning, because it has to steep.

    To make the gin, just combine gin, a bag of tea, and a touch of sugar in a mason jar. Give it a shake, and let it steep for four to six hours.

    I know, that's a long time, but it's so worth it! You can double or triple this recipe, if you want to keep this gin on hand. Store the steeped gin in the fridge or freezer.

    Also! Since you're going to shake the jar with the tea bag in it, and not all tea bags are the same, there's a chance that bag will break. Don't worry if that happens! Leave the gin to steep, then just pour it through a mesh strainer to get the tea leaves out before mixing up your drinks.

    Making the cocktail

    Once you finish steeping, mixing up the Earl Grey cocktail couldn't be simpler. No shaking, no straining, just pour, garnish, and sip.

    Just combine a splash of the gin in a rocks glass with some tonic water. Squeeze in a little bit of orange juice, and serve on the rocks.

    If you want to get fancy, garnish with an orange slice.

    close-up of a glass of Earl Gray gin and tonic with a blue straw and an orange wedge garnish

    Earl Grey cocktail recipe

    Tea-infused gin, tonic water, and fresh orange juice make this Earl Grey cocktail extra special. You'll want to invite the Tipsy Earl to your next party for SURE!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: earl grey cocktail, earl grey gin and tonic, tea cocktail
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 90kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    For the Earl Grey Gin

    • ½ cup good gin
    • 1 bag Earl Grey tea
    • 1 tablespoon sugar

    For the Tipsy Earl

    • 1 ½ ounces Earl Grey Gin
    • ¼ of a Naval Orange - plus an extra little wedge, for garnish
    • tonic water

    Instructions

    Make the Earl Grey gin

    • Pour the gin into a small mason jar and place the bag in there. Add the sugar, close the lid, and give the jar a good shake to combine. Let it steep for 4-6 hours, then pull out the bag. If your bag broke like mine did from overly-enthusiastic shaking, just strain the infused gin before you use it.

    Make the cocktail

    • In a rocks glass full of ice, combine the gin and the juice from ¼ of your orange. Drop the orange rind in your glass, then top off with the tonic water. Garnish with another little orange wedge, and sip!

    Notes

    Store any leftover Earl Grey gin in the fridge or freezer. It will keep for months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 90kcal
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    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mel

      August 09, 2019 at 11:21 am

      5 stars
      I LOVE this! Gin and Earl Grey tea are both favourites of mine. I can't wait to try it. Such a brilliant idea Becky!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        August 09, 2019 at 12:30 pm

        Thank you, Mel! I drink Earl Grey almost every morning, so I can totally relate. It's so delicious!

        Reply
    2. Cadry's Kitchen

      January 18, 2014 at 10:34 am

      Wow, I'd never thought of adding tea to a cocktail! The infusion process sounds easy enough. I'll have to try that! Gin & tonic is my favorite cocktail. For tonic, I like to get the 365 brand from Whole Foods. It's only $2.99 for a six pack, but it's made with sugar, not HFCS. I've gotten the specialty tonics on occasion, but $7 for 4 bottles is steep!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        January 18, 2014 at 11:01 am

        I hear ya! Those fancy sodas are pricey. I have a weakness for expensive ginger ale but only give in once in a while.

        Reply
    3. cookeasyvegan

      January 17, 2014 at 6:49 pm

      It sure is a pretty cocktail. I'm not a big drinker so I depend a lot on tonic and lime at weddings and such. I was stunned when I found out what supermarket tonic contained — it's full of high-fructose corn syrup, no doubt made from GMO corn. I found a decent brand called Q (https://bit.ly/LhuY3j), and the brand you use looks good, but I'm not sure I'd recommend any of the more standard brands anymore. Things sure were simpler when I knew less.

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        January 17, 2014 at 6:54 pm

        Oh man, I've been looking for Q tonic water, but the stores around here don't seem to stock it! I agree - sometimes I wish I were blissfully ignorant about GMOs. :(

        Reply
    4. acookinthemaking

      January 17, 2014 at 2:59 pm

      Oooh fancy! My husband is a big tea drinker, I bet he'd love this!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        January 17, 2014 at 3:27 pm

        Yay! Enjoy it!

        Reply

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    About Me

    Glue and Glitter
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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